The ideal way to check the quality of a sofa is to actually see the insides to scrutinize the engineering and construction aspects of it but unless you are able to find a furniture store that allows you to rip off the covers and it’s outer layers, you are pretty much limited to the touch and feel on the outside.

All hope is not lost though as we share the following tips to ensure that the sofa you are going to buy is not going to end up at the nearest recycling plant six months down the road.

The Frame

This is the most important component of the sofa as the type of wood used for the construction of the frame determines the lifetime of the sofa.

A good quality sofa uses kiln-dried hardwood, held together by industrial glue and nails, which lends to it’s sturdiness and durability, and can typically last more than 15 years! An example of hardwood are Birch, Maple, Oak, Ash, and Teak. Kiln-drying removes all moisture from the wood before construction as this helps guard against cracking. It also enables the frame to retain its shape and stability for a long time to come.

A lower quality sofa uses furniture-grade plywood several layers thick held together with staples. It’s a substitute for hardwood and costs lesser. This type of frame will typically last you at most two to three years. Some manufacturers will use plywood with a combination of other lower grade wood like Pine, which can last you about five years or less.

How to check:

Check what type of wood was the sofa frame constructed out of. If you’re in Singapore, the quality ones are usually North American Birch, and Oak wood.

Hold the sideframe of the sofa, and move it from side to side. Do the same for the backframe. A sturdy frame should not wobble or twist. If it does wobble, it usually means that the joints are not held firmly which can cause serious safety concerns in the future.

Lift up the sofa and feel the weight. It should feel heavy. How heavy? As a reference, our Sofa (Length at 190cm) requires two man (Avg. height:185cm / Avg. weight: 80kg) to lift it up vertically whilst a sofa at IKEA only required one man. In general, this should not be used a sole determinant of a good quality sofa as engineered wood or plywood can feel heavy as well.

Test the frame strength by lifting one corner or leg of the sofa up to about 15cm. If the other leg is still touching the floor, then it means the frame is weak.

Filling

The type of filling used for the cushions determines how soft and plushy or how firm the seating comfort is.

If you like it soft and plushy, and that ‘sink-in’ feeling, consider going for 100% goose down and feather cushions. A goose down is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Do note however, going for a full feather option is very high maintenance and requires daily attention. It is also considered a premium choice and is pricey.

Down Feather

An alternative combination that still provides you with that soft and plushy feeling but without the high costs and maintenance is the foam and feather mix which is commonly used by many designer furniture companies. The typical materials are high density/resilient polyurethane foam (35-42kg/cbm) wrapped in down feathers, cotton or polyester batting. The foam provides a bouncy feel and ‘push back’ against deformation. This makes the seating more supportive. For this combination, the more down feathers is used to wrapped the foam, the more cushy it feels.

Note: The higher the density of the foam, the firmer, and more lasting it is. Make sure you get the higher density foams as the lower density ones break down pretty quickly. Typical lifeline for the foams are:

25kg/cbm : 1 to 2 years

35kg/cbm : 3 to 4 years

42kg/cbm : 7 to 9 years

How to check:

If you opt for a seating cushion that has the down feather material, make sure that you check the inner cover used to contain the feathers. The cover is called Down Proof Ticking and it prevents the feathers from poking through your upholstery. Check the quality as well by pulling the inner cover. If it tears easily, make a pass.

Ask for the foam density. If you like it soft but would like it to last, ask for 42kg/cbm wrapped with down feathers, cotton or polyester batting. These are reasonably priced and very comfy.

The type of upholstery used is equally important when determining the quality of the sofa. Fabrics like cotton and linen are ideal and holds out in tropical climates with high humidity as they do not trap as much heat. However, these fabrics can snag and wear off quickly without proper maintenance. A better alternative would be to go for polyester. It’s easier to maintain, durable, and lasts longer in temperate climate.

For leather options, if you are in an environment like Singapore with high humidity, forget about getting synthetic leather; these will flake after several months. Go for genuine leather but the costs are exorbitant and is approximately 60 to 80% higher than the cost of a fabric sofa. It is also cruel to animals and damages the environment. Therefore, we prefer to use fabrics most of the time.

How to check:

Check the piping and the seams of the sofa. They should be straight and stitched tight.

If you are buying a sofa for long term use, best to check if the sofa covers – including the side and back frames – are removable so that you can change to different color fabrics to match the yearly interior design themes you have planned. It is cost effective too!

Call us or email: info(at)centrepiece.com.sg to discuss your order. By calling Vince, whatapps ( 90305057 ) you can speak direct to us, we don’t have call centres or customer service departments, you speak directly to the people making your sofa.

Looking for reupholstery to change the look of your home? We will be able to assist you.

Stay Connected

Note: If you are a new customer, and you need the upholster to do home visit, a $40 willl apply. This is to prevent people who are not serious in getting upholstery services from abusing the system. This not only drive the business cost up, it will also be a waste of time and resources. However, this $40 can be reimburse if the job is confirmed upon deposit. For existing customers, fees can be waived.

Highest Quality Foam
Our seating foam cores are the highest quality available to the
furniture industry.

Fiber-Wrapped
We wrap all seat cushions individually in a layer of polyester
fiber for perfect contour and softness.

Well-Padded Arms
We pad each arm with foam, cotton and fiber for maximum
comfort and a beautiful, finished look.

Chambered Backs
Back cushion fiber is blown into chambered bags to minimize
setting and sagging over time.

Firmness Options
We offer three different foam core firmness levels so you can
find the seat that matches your needs.

Quality Testing
Foam cores we receive from our vendors are put through
specialized testing confirms that they are consistent to our
exacting standards.

If you need the upholster to do home visit, a $40 willl apply. This is to prevent people who are not serious in getting upholstery services from abusing the system. This not only drive the business cost up, it will also be a waste of time and resources. However, this $40 can be reimburse if the job is confirmed upon deposit.

Call us or email: info(at)centrepiece.com.sg to discuss your order. By calling Vince, whatapps ( 90305057 ) you can speak direct to us, we don’t have call centres or customer service departments, you speak directly to the people making your sofa.

Looking for reupholstery to change the look of your home? We will be able to assist you.

See if you can find out what type of frame your piece of furniture has. If it has a wood frame put together with wooden pins (rather than staples), it’s more likely to be sound. If the frame is a metal frame and uses staples, there is less chance that it makes sense to reuse. Even professionals will probably tell you that it isn’t a wise idea to try to repair a piece that isn’t good quality.

Frames that are visible, often on antique furniture, are usually made of wood such as mahogany or cherry, and often don’t need to be repaired. Changing the shape of a frame is not something that an upholster can or will do. If the shape of the furniture is changed, it will change the entire integrity of the piece.

Check out the foam of the sofa. If the foam on the back and the arms is easily compressed, it’s probably sub-standard foam and is not worth reupholstering. If you find firm or even lumpy foam, chances are that the firm foam is more amenable to being reupholstered.

Additional Reasons to Reupholster

One of the aspects of upholstery to think about is if you have a piece of furniture that is sound but needs to be changed, such as raising the back of the chair. A skilled upholsterer would be able to alter the chair in such a way as to raise the back and give you more support.

You can ask the upholsterer to save the old fabric for you. You may be able to find an alternative use for it.

Last but not least, you will need to know how long it will take for them to complete the project, as well as the cost. You will want to research whether it will cost more to reupholster or to purchase new. Factors that can contribute to the cost are the number of cushions in need of repair, the type of fabric (you’ll need extra fabric for a pattern that needs elements lined up), repairing the frame or legs or adding a skirt. If you need to have your piece picked up and delivered, that will cost extra as well.

If you need the upholster to do home visit, a $40 willl apply. This is to prevent people who are not serious in getting upholstery services from abusing the system. This not only drive the business cost up, it will also be a waste of time and resources. However, this $40 can be reimburse if the job is confirm.

Call us or email: info(at)centrepiece.com.sg to discuss your order. By calling Vince, whatapps (90305057) you can speak direct to us, we don’t have call centres or customer service departments, you speak directly to the people making your sofa.

Looking for reupholstery to change the look of your home? We will be able to assist you.

Reupholstery can cost just as much as buying new furniture, depending on the work required and fabric used, says Vince Chiang, partner of highly rated Centrepiece Furnishing in Singapore.

For example, if you need a single cushion re-stuffed and reupholstered because your puppy chewed it up, the job could cost about $270. But if your couch needs a full overhaul that involves re-stuffing, reupholstery and repairs backboards, the job could cost between $900 and $1,200, or more.

Fabric drives the cost, with a typical sofa using at least 16 yards of fabric and a typical chair using about 7 yards. Cost for upholstery fabric typically costs starts around $45 per yard. Designer fabric typically starts around $85; while high-quality velvet fabric can cost as much as $200, says Vince.

The amount of fabric affects labor costs — more fabric means more labor. Intensive or special reupholstery work, such as the following, can increase labor costs:

• Attaching, replacing or fixing welt cords, or fabric cords that outline the seams of cushions and pillows

• Making sure that shapes and patterns align

• Tufting, forming patterns by threading through fabric and tying the ends with buttons or knots

Whether the cost of reupholstery is worth it depends on the quality and sentimental value of the furniture, says Vince. If you have acquire your sofa from the likes of Ikea, Courts or Vhive, the structure of the furniture may not be worth the reupholstery as it will defintely cost more than buying a new one from them.

Consult us if you are a discerning buyer who values quality over quantity.

What you can do is: email or whatapps 90305057 an image and provide us with the size of your Sofa/ Armchair / Headboard and check with us.

Looking for some custom made water resistant cushions? We will be able to assist you.

Replace your flat patio furniture cushions with new outdoor foam. eFoamstore uses outdoor foam to make new cushions to your size specifications and we’ll help you measure them as well. The open cell structure of outdoor foam allows water to pass through easily. This drainable property is perfect for areas in which cushions may get wet.

When measuring outdoor foam seat cushions to replace the foam there are a few things to taken into consideration:

The new foam interior needs to be slightly bigger than your cushion cover
This allows the foam to be slightly compacted and will help it to fill out the cushion cover properly

If the foam interior is too small then your seat cushion cover will wrinkle when you sit on it

If the new foam fillings are too big you may strain the seams and zip on your cushion cover and your new cushion will not look right

When replacing seat cushion foam, generally, you will need to add 1” to the cushion width, and 1” to the cushion length. You may also want to add 1” to the depth of the cushion as well. This will ensure that your seat cushions have a domed appearance instead of looking too flat.

We are a 2nd generation of sofa and upholstery makers with more than 40 years of sofa making experience in Singapore. Our Premium upholstery services that you want, will assured you with the best value for th dollar you pay. We want you to be happy with our products and services as we want to earn your referral to your friends.

Custom made sofa and armchair are costly and time consuming if you are in Singapore. However, the quality and being uniquely different are something that you deserve to have in life. How many of us can say that we own a piece of sofa that is MADE IN SINGAPORE. We all know that will be expensive due to the land and manpower cost in Singapore.

But still, why work such long hours and feel that you are not able to afford the luxury of a custom made sofa that is MADE IN SINGAPORE? Be diferent from your peers and show others what you can acquire with your taste in life. Email: info@centrepiece.com.sg or whatapps: +65 90305057 now.

If you are travelling to Singapore for work, you can custom made your sofa about 2 months ahead of your arrival.

Popular in the 1980s, cane furniture, along with rattan and wicker, is back in style in a big way. This warm and natural comeback kid exudes a relaxed and tropical vibe. Even better, many cane pieces are available for a steal at secondhand stores.

Wondering how cane differs from rattan and wicker? Cane refers to thin strips of rattan bark. Rattan is a tropical vining plant; its jointed stems produce some of the strongest wood available. Wicker is a generic term for a woven material made of natural (cane, rattan, reed, bamboo) or synthetic fibers.

Here are some ways you can introduce the vintage look of cane into your place.

Pull up a chair. Armchairs are the mainstay of the cane trend. When paired with blue cushions, as in this beach house in Brisbane, Australia, they epitomize coastal style.

They’re also perfect around the dinner table.

Cane chairs add a little French bistro polish to this residence.

You can consider using them at the bar counter too.

Go white. For a more modern take, try white cane. Chairs with nautical blue-and-white cushions bring a breezy feel to another Australian deck.

Bring it inside. A retro cane couch, macramé plant hangers and a sea grass floor covering give this living space a beachy atmosphere.

Put it poolside.Woven furniture is also perfect by the pool, though you will need to take more care with a natural fiber than its synthetic counterpart. These beautiful Balou armchairs are available in different compositions for indoor and outdoor wear for just this reason. The indoor version is abaca and rattan, while the outdoor version is polyethylene.

Should you choose natural or synthetic furniture? While natural cane and rattan furniture is popular for its durability, lightness and natural beauty, it doesn’t do well in extreme heat or in wet or very humid areas, where mold and mildew can cause a problem. Synthetic products can be left out in all weather conditions.

Add a table to your outdoor setting and it’s time to truly relax.

Keep it quaint. This vintage set is a perfect match for the traditional balcony it inhabits. Terra-cotta planters and pastel pillows complete this look.

Vintage cane armchairs, along with a decorative horse, add interest to this study.

Accessorize with it. Cane, rattan and wicker needn’t be restricted to chairs. These sculptural lamps from Darcy Clarke bring drama to a living space.

And in this airy bedroom, a light shade complements the armchair and side table.

Go big. To make a real statement, invest in a gorgeous peacock chair, as seen in this Brazilian home.

Provide contrast. Cane isn’t just for the tropics. If you prefer an eclectic look to the beachy vibe, try something different and mix a white cane headboard with luxurious pillows and a moody black feature wall.

You can customize virtually anything nowadays, and furniture is no exception. The rising popularity of bespoke or custom-made items extends beyond tailored shirts or iPhone cases; you can now personalize your very own bespoke sofa that caters to your taste, needs, and budget. Enter centrepiece furnishing, an up-and-coming company that offers designer-level sofas that are significantly cheaper than other comparable retailers.

By removing the middlemen that normally hike up the prices of furniture, centrepiece furnishing allows you to work with a wide range of custom options, while still remaining affordable. Intrigued by the concept, we spoke with the company to gain some insight on why exactly customizable furniture is the way to go.

Read on for Reasons You Need a Bespoke Couch.

Your space is unique. Your furniture should be, too.

“Why conform to standard sizes and configurations when your space is a reflection of you?”

It’s time to up your couch game.

“You’ve graduated from the big-box sofa look, and the home assembly model you subscribed to during college no longer does the trick.”

You appreciate compliments.

“Everybody from your aunt to your date will rave about how impressed they are with your ability to furnish your pad with cool (non-generic) pieces.”

It’s just time for a change.

“That once-unique column in your loft lost its hipster appeal when you realized it prevents a standard sofa from fitting in your space.”

You discovered the virtues of a chaise and that two chaises are better than one.

“For years you tuned out your mother whenever she spoke of that perfect chaise lounge she just had to have. You had no idea what or who ‘chaise’ was; now you get it.”

You get to channel your inner designer.

“When you have guests over you’ll be able to make comments like, ‘I just couldn’t find anything I liked, so I designed my own sofa.'”

You’ll get serious style points from your significant other.

“And if you don’t have a S.O., your high-design furniture is certainly a step in the right direction.”

You’re making an investment.

“Your sofa will last for years, as will buyer’s remorse if you purchase a piece you’re not thrilled with.”

You don’t settle.

“Especially when we’re talking about where you’ll be sitting on game day. Keep in mind that this is also where you’ll be sleeping if you piss off your significant other.”

There’s now an option that doesn’t break the bank.

“Interior Define offers high-quality, custom pieces for a fraction of the price of comparable retailers. More money for drinks—everyone wins!”

Is it easy to find the corner sofa with the right size?

Perhaps one of the most popular requests that Centrepiece Furnishing get for a sofa made to measure is in our corner sofa range. Over the years we have made extra large corner sofas as well as some of the smallest corner sofas one has ever seen.

Centrepiece Furnishing provides one on one service inside our workshop. We have experienced workers ready to assist you design your perfect sofa that fits into your space.

There is no need to fret if that retail sofa will fit.

You will be one of the rare few in Singapore that is savvy enough to custom made sofa from us.

You will probably get a better valued sofa that you will not be embarrassed to show off to your wealthier cousins:P